[Peace-discuss] News-Gazette article Boardman ART Theater

[Marti Wilkinson]

*I think that there may be some class bias that says that prostitution is
bad while other forms of activity such as drinking, loud music, picking up
dates for potential sex in bars, hawking cheap goods at expensive prices,
etc. is not*

Really?

*If the City had supplied services then and now to many of those persons,
maybe they would not have entered into prostitution.*

One of my best friends growing up ended up on the streets and she is
currently in prison out in California. Her foray into prostitution could be
said to be a result of mental illness, drug addiction, and being sexually
assaulted as a teenager. Her situation is complex and I think it's
simplistic to assume that having access to services would have made a
difference in her case.
*
** Sex workers have always existed; and some people will always participate
in that profession.*

No shit. You mentioned the bar scene and history has shown that prohibition
didn't work. So perhaps it may be worthwhile to decriminalize prostitution
and even drug dealing.  Vice laws of any kind have alway targeted people who
have the fewest resources and I doubt that is going to change anytime soon.

*What you seem to be saying is that it is better to have high class call
girls and boys who conduct their business in private out of public eyes are
better than to have poorer street walkers use the streets to conduct their
business – even though it is ok for other venders to use the public streets
and sidewalks to conduct their businesses (i.e. such as bars)*.

So what is the difference between a "high class" prostitute than a street
walker?  Level of visibility?

If you are concerned about the welfare of the poor street walkers then
perhaps advocating for legalized prostitution is the way to go.  Many
prostitutes who are victims of homicide became vulnerable due to their
vicinity to the streets. I pray that my friend doesn't meet a violent end at
the hands of a John - but that is a risk.  At least escort services are able
to keep track of where employees are and who they are with. So if less
visibility equates to more safety for both the sex workers and customers
then I'm all for it.

Here is a little more history.  When downtown Champaign was a hotbed of
prostitution any woman in the area could potentially find herself being
accosted by a strange man.  I once went to the convenience store at the
corner of University and State to get a soda. On my way out some guy pulled
up in a pickup truck and asked me if I wanted to have sex.  I was wearing a
T-Shirt and Blue Jeans. My dress was in no way provocative and yet I was
still approached. For what it's worth....that wasn't the first time I was
accosted. Once any area develops a reputation for prostitution any young
woman could be potentially targeted for unwanted attention.
*
In point of fact, it very well can become a campus town west rather than the
idealized vision that is being suggested.*

Downtown Champaign is already campus town west. However I consider that to
be a far lesser evil than watching the remaining architecture fall into
decay.   You are the one who mentioned downtown attracting a "better class"
of people - not me. If anything I wonder if you aren't projecting your own
biases on me?
- Marti






On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 5:21 PM, LAURIE <LAURIE at advancenet.net> wrote:

>  > I understand that the current developments in downtown have flaws,
> however I wonder how many people remember when the area was overrun by  >
> prostitution.
>
>
>
> What makes you so sure that downtown is still not overrun by prostitution
> of a different sort?  Are student drunks going from bar to bar any different
> from prostitutes?  I think that there may be some class bias that says that
> prostitution is bad while other forms of activity such as drinking, loud
> music, picking up dates for potential sex in bars, hawking cheap goods at
> expensive prices, etc. is not.  If the City had supplied services then and
> now to many of those persons, maybe they would not have entered into
> prostitution; if the City had stalked and prosecuted with stringent
> penalties the clients of the prostitutes rather than the prostitutes, there
> would have been less of it on the public streets.  Sex workers have always
> existed; and some people will always participate in that profession.  What
> you seem to be saying is that it is better to have high class call girls and
> boys who conduct their business in private out of public eyes are better
> than to have poorer street walkers use the streets to conduct their business
> – even though it is ok for other venders to use the public streets and
> sidewalks to conduct their businesses (i.e. such as bars).
>
>
>
> The renovation of downtown for the use by up-scale persons may actually
> attract more prostitution and drug dealing – only it might be by a better
> class of people who are more sophisticated and better able to hide their
> actions behind a screen of respectability; but in all likelihood it will
> attract the more obvious prostitutes, drug dealers, rowdies, etc. because
> that will be where the money will be.  In point of fact, it very well can
> become a campus town west rather than the idealized vision that is being
> suggested.
>
>
>
> *From:* peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [mailto:
> peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] *On Behalf Of *Marti Wilkinson
> *Sent:* Monday, July 21, 2008 3:05 PM
> *To:* Stuart Levy
> *Cc:* peace-discuss at anti-war.net
> *Subject:* Re: [Peace-discuss] News-Gazette article Boardman ART Theater
>
>
>
> I've been to the current incarnation of the Art Theatre. What I suggest is
> that we encourage the Virginia theatre to show more movies. In terms of
> architecture and comfort the Virginia is better suited for preservation. At
> the Art Theatre I tend to feel cramped in the lobby and I don't like their
> seats. .
>
>
> I understand that the current developments in downtown have flaws, however
> I wonder how many people remember when the area was overrun by prostitution.
> My father worked for the unemployment office for years before he retired and
> in the old location on Randolph and Hill it wasn't unusual to see employees
> leaving the building at 5PM and the local prostitutes line up against the
> building.
>
> It was an area that really suffered a major downturn when the mall opened.
> The only department store that did not move to the mall was Robesons and
> eventually they closed down. The News-Gazette occupies a building that used
> to house JC Penney and the building on the corner of 1 Main used to be
> Sears.
>
> One room movie houses included the Virginia, The Rialto, and the Orpheum.
> The bank that occupies the northwest corner of Mattis and Springfield
> (Country Fair) is also a former movie house. Urbana Cinemas used to show
> movies until the early part of the 1990's. As another respondent pointed out
> the technology has played a huge role in how theaters have managed to become
> obsolete.
>
> Given the choice I would prefer to see an active vibrant downtown with
> restaurants than to see the buildings deteriorate and for the place to be
> overrun by prostitution and drug deals.
>
> The only way that a progressive community will be able to retain a resource
> such as the Art Theater would be to find an individual or group who is
> willing to assume responsibility for the theater for the purpose of
> providing alternative entertainment. If anyone is able to do so more power
> to them.
>
> Peace, Marti
>
>  On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 11:30 AM, Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu>
> wrote:
>
> On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 05:51:11AM -0500, Marti Wilkinson wrote:
> > I hate to say this, but I have grown to prefer the crass commercialism of
> > multiplex cinemas. The only thing I really remember about the Art Theater
> > growing up is that it was one of two movie houses that showed snuff
> films.
> > Personally  I think Champaign is better off focusing on keeping the
> Virginia
> > Theater going with a combination of plays, movies, and the local Ebert
> Fest.
>
> Oh, they sure don't show snuff films these days.   (Though they do show
> some
> commercial films -- the new Batman one is there now.)   You should look at
> what they do bring to town.   Most of them are things that we'd never have
> a chance to see otherwise in a town this size, and many of those are
> really fine films.
>
> And as Robert says, Boardman has often brought films that local
> progressives
> have asked for, like Taxi to the Dark Side.  They even supported AWARE when
> we (Karen) asked to hold an in-theater discussion about that film after one
> of
> the performances, giving us time in the theater between shows and the
> use of their PA system.  We are not going to get that sort of treatment
> from the commercial theaters.
>
>
> The only good note from this article is that Boardman's lease runs through
> the end of 2009.    But that'll come all too soon.
>
>
> >
> > If anyone does decide to take the place over...it still needs a lot of
> > work............
> >
> > On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 12:29 AM, Stuart Levy <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu>
> wrote:
> >
> > > On Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 02:42:42AM +0000, jandurl at comcast.net wrote:
> > > > It's your business: Owner looks at options for the Art
> > > > Sunday July 13, 2008
> > > > David Kraft figures it's going to take some time to find the right
> person
> > > to
> > > > take over his historic downtown Champaign movie theater.  So he's
> > > starting
> > > > his search early.  Kraft said Greg Boardman, the current operator of
> the
> > > > 240-seat Art Theater at 126 W. Church St., has declined to continue
> after
> > > his
> > > > contract ends at the end of 2009.  "I offered it to him for three
> more
> > > years,
> > > > and he was not interested," he added.  That three years would have
> been
> > > at a
> > > > higher rate, Kraft said, but not nearly the level of increase the
> city
> > > > imposed on downtown parking.
> > >
> > > "not nearly the level of increase"?  So he's patting himself on the
> back
> > > for
> > > not tripling the rent?  Maybe he's only doubling it.  What rubbish.
> > >
> > > > Boardman, who has operated the theater since
> > > > 2003, didn't respond to questions regarding the theater.  Kraft, who
> once
> > > > operated the Princess Theatre in LeRoy, contends the Art is in a
> > > desirable
> > > > location, given all the redevelopment taking place in the vicinity.
>  He's
> > > > looking for "an experienced, credible, financially stable" operator
> > > willing
> > > > to pay market or near-market rent, he said.  His first choice is to
> see
> > > the
> > > > vintage movie house remain a theater, he added, but he'll consider
> all
> > > > options, including a sale that would involve a different use of the
> > > property.
> > >
> > > It'll be a sad day if that theater is taken over to become another
> pricey
> > > restaurant
> > > just to fatten Kraft.  He drove out Tom, the previous New Art operator,
> and
> > > now
> > > it may well be that he's happy to drive out Greg Boardman too.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > -------------- Original message --------------
> > > > From: "C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at uiuc.edu>
> > > >
> > > > >> I hear that the Art Theatre is on the block or that (perhaps)
> Boardman
> > > himself
> > > > > just wants out. Either way, if true, it's not good news. --CGE
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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